Seventeenth Century Cartography
Seventeenth century cartography brings original engraved maps into contemporary interiors, offering historic geography rendered with period artistry.
Seventeenth Century Cartography
Seventeenth century cartography encompasses framed county maps, atlas plates and wall art produced during the seventeenth century. These pieces record historical regions such as Hertfordshire, Surrey, Suffolk, Caernarvon, Stafford, Dorset, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Monmouthshire.
The selections available here include Dutch and English examples, spanning Carolean, Jacobean and Dutch Baroque styles. Buyers encounter both original atlas issues and period engravings framed for display.
Makers represented in this tradition include Joan Blaeu, Jan Blaeu, John Speed, Robert Morden and William Hole. Works after established cartographers like Christopher Saxton also appear within this group.
Materials and production methods
These pieces consist of paper bearing engraved lines in ink, occasionally enhanced with watercolour colouring. The physical sheets originate from historical atlases and geographical publications.
Frames utilise wood and glass to protect the paper substrates, with oak frequently providing the structural housing for wall art presentation. Hand colouring is applied directly to the engraved surfaces on select examples.
Early mapmakers frequently populated empty sea spaces with imaginary sea monsters and elaborate sailing ships.
Distinctions in quality
Quality rests upon the precision of the engraving work and the clarity of the printed lines across the paper. Finer impressions display sharp topography and clear lettering from the original plates.
The application of period watercolour pigment contributes to distinction, where careful hand colouring enhances geographical boundaries without obscuring the underlying engraving.
Joan Blaeu·John Speed·Robert Morden·William Hole
The Seventeenth Century Cartography Glossary
- Atlas
- A bound collection of maps published as a volume. Seventeenth century examples provided the source pages for many individual framed maps.
- Engraving
- A printmaking technique where an image is incised into a metal plate with a burin. This method produced the fine lines characteristic of period cartography.
- Cartography
- The science and art of making maps. Period works combine geographical survey data with decorative cartouches and heraldic elements.
- Hand coloured
- Maps finished with applied watercolour by hand after the printing process. This technique added visual distinction to monochrome impressions.
Seventeenth Century Cartography: Frequently Asked Questions
What are these maps?
These pieces are original engraved maps produced during the seventeenth century by prominent cartographers and publishers. They depict English, Welsh and Scottish counties with period topographical details.
Many originate from comprehensive atlases compiled in the Netherlands and England during the Carolean and Jacobean eras.
How were they used?
Historical maps served as administrative references, educational tools and displays of geographical knowledge for landowners and scholars.
Publishers bound them into atlases or distributed them separately for framing and study in domestic and institutional settings.
How do I frame them?
Protect the paper substrate by employing conservation-grade framing materials and UV-filtering glass to prevent fading from light exposure.
Keep framed cartography away from direct sunlight and areas prone to excessive moisture or humidity fluctuations.
How are periods identified?
Dating relies on cartographic evidence, publishing dates recorded in atlas editions, and stylistic markers associated with specific engravers.
Typography, decorative title cartouches and watermark evidence within the paper further assist in establishing the correct period.